and in this corner...1966 Vibro Champ!

there are still deals to be had on craigslist. this amp was listed without a picture and was included with a mesa boogie mark IV. why, you might ask, did i click on the mesa? i'm not sure. maybe the wheat grill? but the end of the description told a tale of another unworking small fender tube amp....and the rest is history. $180

Psst..keep it dark...1962 Fender Super

a better amplifier was never bestowed upon an unworthy guitarist as this.

60's 'servicemans' Jaguar Surf Grean

this was my first and only journey into the world of guitar re-finishing. the story begins with my very first ebay purchase. it was what i thought might be a vintage jaguar. it turned out to be what is commonly referred to as the 'servicemans jaguar'. google it. when i received parts in a box (not kidding) the body had stickers and grey primer that would have scared kurt cobain.

i did some research and found http://www.reranch.com/ for correct wood filer, primer, paint and aged nitro laquer. it was expensive but it looked great. i built the matching cab and sold it on cl. but i kept the naked lady amp handle, natch.

Gibson ES 125

this beauty is in las vegas but it wants to move to phoenix.

the one that got away

during a jan. '10 visit to the los angeles world guitar show, i found this ultra-rare 1950's kay amp with 15" speaker. it had the perfect vintage amp sound! and it was green. i didn't purchase it as i was heading to the NAMM show and couldn't carry it. when i called the next day to buy it, it had been sold...and was being shipped to South America.

1959 Kay Swingmaster

While searching CL (natch) in Las Vegas I ran across a '59 Kay Swingmaster in dead-mint condition. It's not the Barney Kessel with the Kelvanator head stock but it is a pretty cool vintage guitar at a very reasonable price.

Ladies and Gentlegerms, TwangWreck!